E-News

Grace's Purpose | Make plans to be in worship over the next three weeks (April 26, May 3, and 10) as Pastor Brooks preaches a three-week sermon series on Grace's three-fold purpose under the Lord's guidance:

April 26 - Discipleship is about Faith

May 3 - Servanthood is about Hope

May 10 - Stewardship is about Love

Wednesdays at One: April 29

The Ghissi Altarpiece is a 14th-century Italian tempera and gold leaf masterpiece by Francescuccio Ghissi, depicting the Crucifixion flanked by scenes from the life of St. John the Evangelist. Dismantled in the 19th century and scattered across the US, the panels were digitally reunited and physically brought together.

We'll gather at 12:30pm on Wednesday, April 29, for a potluck lunch, followed by an engaging talk on the altarpiece and how it was reconstructed by Ingrid Daubechie, James B. Duke Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Mathematics, at 1pm.

Please RSVP here and bring a dish to share if you’re able.

To learn more about the project, click here.

May Intentional Invite

Grace is continuing our monthly intentional invite initiative with a Picnic in the Park on Saturday, May 2, starting at 11am. Consider who it is God is calling you to invite and forward them this invitation as we enjoy time together outdoors.

Great Work, Team... and More Opportunities Ahead | Thank you to the painting and cleanout team from Saturday's Work Day: Karen Kreymborg, Carolyn McElfatrick, Dede and Walt Crosmer, Mark Williamson and Kathy Peterson. Front railing looks fabulous and the outdoor storage equipment room looks like it belongs in a Home Depot catalogue.

Is the spirit moving you to help with lawn maintenance this summer? We can do an easy walk-through the process! Contact Kathy Peterson at resource@gracedurham.org or sign up here.

Lights Are Back On—Here’s What to Know | The courtyard pole light and exterior building lights have been fixed and are now working properly. However, we were unable to set them up for automatic dusk-to-dawn operation.

Please note that the lights will need to be turned on and off manually using the switch. For any evening events, remember to turn the lights on when you arrive and off when you leave — the switch is located by the main door. Thank you!

Grace House Open House Recap | Thank you to everyone who attended the Grace House Open House on April 12! It was a well-attended event filled with great conversation, community, and refreshments. The Open House offered a valuable opportunity to explore the space and share ideas for its future. If you missed it, flyers with information about Grace House and the task force are available here. We appreciate everyone who helped make the event a success!

Grace Advisory Board | Minutes from last week's Grace Advisory Board can be found here. Please note the minutes have yet to be approved by GAB at the next meeting. The next GAB Meeting will be via Zoom on Tuesday, May 19 at 6:30pm. All are welcome to attend.

Room to Rent? | Pastor Brooks has recently learned of a Grad student coming from Germany for the Fall 2026 semester and is seeking a short term rental from the end of August-December. If you have a room to rent, or know of someone who does, please let Pastor Brooks know.

Marie Hammond, Peace Corps in Kenya Update | We have received a new issue of Marie's newsletter for April 2026. Click here to read the latest updates.

Beth El Lunch & Learn April 30 | Beth El is hosting their monthly Lunch and Learn series at 12pm on Thursday, April 30 at the Forest at Duke (2701 Pickett Rd, Durham) with Rabbi Greyber and Beth El friends. Open to all—bring your own lunch, no RSVP needed! (In case of rain, they will meet on Zoom.)

-Discipleship-

Disciples Belong to God, Not Us

1 Corinthians 3:9 – “For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.”

First Corinthians 3:9 tells us that we belong to God. We are “God’s field” and “God’s building.” When it comes to making disciples, people sometimes use language that sounds possessive, like “my disciples” or “their disciples.” Knowing that every disciple of Jesus Christ belongs to God encourages us to have healthier relationships with those we help disciple. It also reminds us that God is more committed to their growth and well-being than we are.

Thred from Lutheran Hour Ministries | Thred is a digital outreach platform from Lutheran Hour Ministries that helps Christians engage in everyday conversations about faith. Through articles, videos, and online resources, it focuses on real-life topics like purpose and identity, encouraging natural and relational dialogue—especially online. Click here for more information.

-Small Groups-

Choir: Contact: Erin Hodge

Contact Erin for rehearsal dates and times.

Family Pals

Contact: Donna Walston

Meets Sunday, May 17 at 9am

Farmers Market

Contact: Dan Heuser

May Market: May 9 from 1pm-4pm

Home-Centered Ministry

Contact: Barb Tippin

Next Meeting: Wed, May 20 at 12:45pm

Learn more about the H-C PALS Group here.

LWML Quilting

Contact: Kathy Pittman

Meets Wednesdays at 10am

Stephen Ministry

Contact: Barb Tippin or Joe Wethman

Learn more about Stephen Ministry here.

Young Adults

Contact Emma Pollard or Hunter Garrison

Sundays at 3pm

Zoom Book Club

Contact Donna Gesell for more information and for the Zoom link.

April: Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

April 23 at 6:30pm

Upcoming Books:

May: Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult

June/Summer: The Correspondent by Virginia Evan’s

-Upcoming Events-

4/26 - See Sunday listing above

4/27 - 11:30am - Pastor's Brown Bag Lunch

4/28 - 4pm - Growing Through Grief - St. Paul's Lutheran Church, 1200 W. Cornwallis

4/29 - 10am - LWML Quilting

12pm - Noon Prayer Service

12:30pm- Wednesdays at One - "Reunited: The Ghissi Altarpiece"

Potluck lunch at 12:30pm, Presentation at 1pm. RSVP here.

6:30pm - Choir Rehearsal

5/2 - 11am - Picnic in the Park: May Intentional Invite

5/3 - During Worship - Sending of our Puerto Rico Short-Term Mission Trip Volunteers

5/9 - Puerto Rico Mission Trip

1pm-4pm - Farmers' Market

Click here for the church calendar.

Click on the image above for more information.

-From the Church Office-

All articles for the weekly e-news should be sent to the church office no later than the Wednesday prior to the Thursday mailing. This form may also be used to submit articles.

April Baptisms, Birthdays, and Anniversaries

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